There is A Mountain (song) by Donovan (1967)

Listen to it here

[Intro] (That's nice)

[Verse 1]
The lock upon my garden gate's a snail, that's what it is
The lock upon my garden gate's a snail, that's what it is (Oh yeah)
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is
(Oh yeah, that's right)

[Verse 2]
The caterpillar sheds his skin to find a butterfly within
Caterpillar shed his skin to find a butterfly within (Yeah)
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is (Yeah, yeah, right)
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain

[Bridge]
Oh Juanita, oh Juanita, oh Juanita, I call your name (Ah)
Oh, the snow will be a blinding sight to see
As it lies on yonder hillside

[Verse 3]
Lock upon my garden gate's a snail, that's what it is (Oh, yes)
The lock upon my garden gate's a snail, that's what it is (Everybody)
Caterpillar sheds his skin to find a butterfly within
Caterpillar shed his skin to find a butterfly within (Ah, yes)
(Everybody, everybody) yeah, momma

[Outro]
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is
(That's right)
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is
(Yes, yes)
First there is a mountain (Alright), then there is no mountain, then there is
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is
First there is a mountain

 

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“There is A Mountain” by Donovan was released as a single in 1967. It was a #11 hit in the US that September and also peaked at #8 in the UK and reached #25 in Australia. The lyrics reference a saying by Qingyuan Weixin. Here translated by D. T. Suzuki:

Before I had studied Chan (Zen) for thirty years, I saw mountains as mountains, and rivers as rivers. When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point where I saw that mountains are not mountains, and rivers are not rivers. But now that I have got its very substance I am at rest. For it’s just that I see mountains once again as mountains, and rivers once again as rivers.

There is A Mountain by Donovan was released as a single in 1967. It was a #11 hit in the US that September and also peaked at #8 in the UK and reached #25 in Australia.